Display-fixture.



- J. T. CLARK.

DISPLAY FIXTURE.

APPLICATION rum) rmm, 1910.

Patented Feb. 21,1911.

EVENT UPI.

JAMES CLARK. $V4Z4 %ZZ% WITNESSES F 33 JAMES T. CLARK, 0F MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

DISPLAY-FIXTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

Application filed February 7, 1910. Serial No. 542,460.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, James T. CLARK, of the city of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display-Fixtures, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in display fixtures for exhibiting garments or the like, to be used in connection with showcases, wardrobes, etc.

The main object of the invention is to provide a showcase having therein a movable garment support adapted to travel upon a carriage suitably mounted in the showcase, said garment support being adapted to be withdrawn from the showcase at will and rotated in such a manner that the garments may be exhibited to the best advantage with a minimum amount of space and trouble.

A further object is to provide means for automatically locking and releasing the support at certain predetermined positions.

The invention consists essentially of a suitable showcase having a track located therein, a carriage mounted on said track and adapted to travel thereon, and a garment support or rack suspended from said carriage. The garment support is fixed to the carriage during its travel in and out of the showcase, and is non-rotatable during its travel, but upon reaching the end of its outward travel means are provided for automatically releasing the support in such a manner that the rack may be rotated at will. Further means are provided for preventing lateral motion of the carriage in its travel.

In the drawings which illustrate my invention:Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section of the showcase with the device mounted therein. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 78 of-Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of the carriage. Fig. 4 is a sec- I tiona-l view of the latch on the line 9-10 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 1112 of Fig. 2, showing the operation of the locking device. 'Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the mounting of one of the steadying wheels. 5

Referring to the drawings, 13 designates the framework of a showcase of the ordinary type, provided with glass sides 14 and glass doors 15. Between the top of the showcase l7 and the ceiling 18, I provide a space within which is mounted a suitable track and carriage mounted thereon to carry the garment support or rack. This space is provided with an external molding 19, and a strong internal framework 20, to carry the upper tracks. On the upper side of the ceiling 18, I provide supporting beams 21, provided with a notch or slot 22, within which and between the beams is mounted the lower track 23, extending from the front to the back of the case and centrally thereof. A pair of upper tracks 24, located one on each side of the central track are carried upon the framework 20. The tracks 24 are preferably formed of T-shaped sections, the flanges being attached to the framework and the central web forming the wheel tread. The supporting beams 21 are suitably bolted together, while the track 23 is secured between them. The carriage comprises a central hub 25 from which two pairs of arms 26 and 27 radiate at right angles to one another. One pair of arms 26 carry at their extremities, grooved running wheels 28, which travel on the track 23. These wheels 28 are journaled in bifurcated members 29, carried. by the pivot pins 30. The other pair of arms 27 carry at their extremities similar grooved steadying wheels 31, which engage the tracks 24 from below. The wheels 31 are similarly journaled in bifurcated members 32 carried upon the pins 33. A set screw 34 is provided in each of the arms 27 and bears against the end of the pin 33 to raise or lower the member 32 so that the wheel 31 will always be in contact with the track 24. A look nut 35 is provided for each set screw. To compensate for any wear or unevenness in the tracks 24, the extremity of each arm 27 is recessed at 37 and a short helical spring 36 located in the recess. This spring is always in compression between the bottom of the recess and the member 32 and will maintain the wheel 31 in engagement with the track 24 to prevent rattling.

A supporting column 38 is fixed to the hub 25 of the carriage and extends downwardly, traveling within the slot or notch 22, between the supporting beams 21. This column is provided with a slot 39 within which is located the track 23, to thus permit the column and carriage to slide freely in and out of the case. A spider hub 40, provided with radial arms il carrying garment racks 1-2, is suspended from the lower end of the column 38. This spider hub is mounted on a connecting nut is which is screwed firmly into the lower end of the column 38, the hub 40 being adapted to turn freely thereon. The nut is provided at its lower end with a flange-s5 above which is a ball bearing for the hub 40, comprising balls 46 traveling in ball courses 4:7.

The garment rack is provided with the usual fenders To prevent the garment rack being turned when in the case, or being shoved back into the case when out of its proper position, I provide a locking device comprising a collar 52'fixed to the spider hub and extending upwardly therefrom. The locking collar 52 is provided with a pair of opposite notches 53 in the upper edge thereof within which the lower edgeof the track 23 lies. The notches on the collar thus permit said collar to slide with the hub and column on the track, but prevent turning of the rack so long as the track engages the notches.

To release the rack, I provide a pair of notches 54: at a certain point in the lower edge of the track 23, these notches being of such a width and distance apart that the portion of the locking collar lying above the lower edge of the track may be readily revolved therein. It will be obvious that when the carriage is in the position shown in Fig. 2, it will be impossible to revolve the garment rack, as the lock 52, which is rigid therewith, cannot turn on account of the track projecting into the notches 53. hen the carriage is pulled to its forward position, the locking collar 52will exactly register with the notches 54: of the track so that the garment rack may be rotated, the portion of the locking collar 52 lying above the bottom of the track, passing through the slots or notches 54. It is also apparent that when the garment rack is turned at any angle to the show case, the lock 52 will engage the slots 54 in the track and pre: vent the carriage being shoved back into the case, so that the racks would break the walls thereof.

For convenience in alining the locking device, in position, I provide a latch comprising a pair of opposite depressions 48 in the nut 44, and a small round ended latch bolt 49 slidably mounted in a recess'50 in the spider hub 40. A small helical spring 51 is located in the recess 50 and operates to press the latch 49 inwardly. The de pressions 48 are located in such a position that the latch will engage one or the other of said depressions when the garment'rack is parallel with the long sides of the case.

The curvature of the depressions 48 and end of the latch 49 is such that the latch will be wedged out of the depressions if any considerable force tends to rotate the rack.

To prevent any lateral movement in the carriage when it is being drawn back and forward, the rails are beveled or V-shaped asindicated at 56, while the wheel treads are beveled as indicated at 57, to fit closely on the beveled portion of the tracks. In this manner, lateral motion of the carriage will be obviated and any wear of the wheels or tracks will be taken up evenly to insure a close running fit.

The operation of the device will be easily 1 understood from the foregoing description, and the advantages of this device are numerous. By suspending the garment rack from the top of the showcase, the entire space below may be occupied by the garments themselves. The weight of the garments and rack will be carried by the tracks and the carriage will be prevented from rocking or tilting by means of the steadying wheels 81. The garment rack is automatically locked against rotation when within the carriage, and is automatically released when it reaches a predetermined position so that the rack may be revolved to display the garments. Furthermore, the carriage cannot be shoved back into the case until the racks are parallel with the case.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a case having a track mounted in the top thereof, of a carriage adapted to run on said track, a garment support suspended from said carriage, a grooved member carried by the support engaging the track to lock said support against rotation within the casing, said track having notches positioned to release the locking member when the carriage has reached its forward position.

2. A garment support comprising atrack having notches therein a carriage thereon, a rotatable supporting member suspended from said carriage, and a recessed locking collar fixed to the support and revoluble through the track notches to lock the carriage against reciprocation.

3. In a garment support, the combination of a carriage, tracks traversed by said carriage, a garment supporting member suspended from said carriage, steadying wheels for preventing lateral motion of the carriage, a locking collar fixed to the garment support having recesses engaging the track, said track being provided with notches to permit rotation of the supporting member in its forward position.

4. In a garment support, the combination of a carriage, beveled tracks traversed by said carriage grooved wheels mounted on said. carriage and engaging said tracks, a

garment rack suspended from said carriage, In Witness whereof I have hereunto set a locklng collar mounted on said garment my hand 1n the presence of two Witnesses. rack and provided wlth recesses engagmg the tracks to prevent rotation of said rack, JAMES CLARK and notches in the track to release the lock- Witnesses: ing collar to rotate said rack in its forward STUART R. WV. ALLEN,

position. E. R. MCKENZIE. 

